Children while pre-med....

[Medikal21]

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Too far fetched? I started college pre-vet...that's all I had ever wanted to do since I was a little girl. I had everything planned out...finish pre-vet move onto Purdue and apon completion open an animal sanctuary (oh, and NEVER NEVER NEVER HAVE CHILDREN!). Geez...how plans change. 2 years into pre-vet...hmmm I feel funny...seven pregnancy tests and a few boxes of Kleenxs later I come to the conclusion I'm pregnant!

So my baby girl will be 2 March 19 2008...and wouldn't change a thing! I have been attending a smaller school and working towards a degree in Business Administration. ( a tad different than expected!) But I figured ever animal sanctuary owner needs some kind of business sense!

But after my bachelors I don't know what to do...I will by 23 when I finish...is that really too late to start studying medicine? I sometimes feel like a failure when I think of how far I would be now...

Any advice? Oh and last summer I left a job that I LOVED at an animal shelter where I had worked for years to make a little more as a pharmacy tech...and I kind of like the pharmacy despite that little vegan voice inside my head telling me not to! Any pharmacy students out there with children?

 

[DrMidlife]

...I will by 23 when I finish...is that really too late to start studying medicine? I sometimes feel like a failure when I think of how far I would be now...

You are SO, SO young. Put down that ruler and stop measuring yourself against others. If you start med school at 45 there will be somebody there older than you.

More than half of the medical students in the US are women of child-bearing age, so what do you think they're bearing? Lots of premeds, med students, residents, fellows, and attendings of both sexes are creating and raising families.

Do it if you want to. Training will suck, but it sucks for everybody.

 

[Tekar]

I will by 23 when I finish...is that really too late to start studying medicine? I sometimes feel like a failure when I think of how far I would be now...

to repeat what was just said..because you need to hear it...

Kids don't hurt you.. your family makes you stronger and being a mother in medical school and a doctor will open up thoughts of a future in your child that still astonish me with my 3 year old. My 3 year old wants to be a doctor. Thoughts my 9 year old never experienced until recently..Neither of them would have considered it if I weren't a doctor.

I'm 30.. married with 2 kids and I wouldn't change a thing. My family is what gives me strength. 23 is still a kiddo.. so much to see and do still. Don't stress, just get a move on in the pre-reqs, finish your business degree and get to it.

Don't fret, just get to it.

 

[RN2DO]

You have plenty of time...How about 36 with 3 kids 10,7, and 4. Starting med school in August. Believe me you have time...

 

[Law2Doc]

Too far fetched? I started college pre-vet...that's all I had ever wanted to do since I was a little girl. I had everything planned out...finish pre-vet move onto Purdue and apon completion open an animal sanctuary (oh, and NEVER NEVER NEVER HAVE CHILDREN!). Geez...how plans change. 2 years into pre-vet...hmmm I feel funny...seven pregnancy tests and a few boxes of Kleenxs later I come to the conclusion I'm pregnant!

So my baby girl will be 2 March 19 2008...and wouldn't change a thing! I have been attending a smaller school and working towards a degree in Business Administration. ( a tad different than expected!) But I figured ever animal sanctuary owner needs some kind of business sense!

But after my bachelors I don't know what to do...I will by 23 when I finish...is that really too late to start studying medicine? I sometimes feel like a failure when I think of how far I would be now...

Any advice? Oh and last summer I left a job that I LOVED at an animal shelter where I had worked for years to make a little more as a pharmacy tech...and I kind of like the pharmacy despite that little vegan voice inside my head telling me not to! Any pharmacy students out there with children?

You are all over the place in your career goals. Are you pre-vet, pre-business, pre-pharm or pre-med? You are flailing around and honestly I'm not sure from your post you are ready to jump into any graduate school until you take some time to figure out what you want to do with your life. Maybe slow things down for a bit, enjoy being a mom, and figure out what you want to do with your life. You can be a parent in any of these tracks, but will require help at home for all of them. But as for medicine, IMHO, unless you have decided that is the only track for you for some articulable reasons, and until you are done thinking about pre-vet, pre-pharm tracks, you really aren't ready to go that direction.

 

[Kateb4]

Agree with all of the above advice. First off, you are still very young. I still feel that I am young at 30 with 3 kids. You have all of the time in your life to achieve your goals, but it really is important that you figure out what it is exactly that you want to do, or you will waste your time in these various venues. I would strongly suggest taking a year or two to try out these different careers. You can shadow, or work more in these areas, but you really have to pick one or else adcoms may get the feeling that you are not a good dedicated candidate. Children will not hinder your chances at any of these options, but you will need to have plans in place for child care and such. Also, while you are completing your degree, make sure that you get the pre-reqs in there, and plan on studying for placement testing for whatever field you choose.

 

[Medikal21]

Yes, figuring out where to go from here is the first step. Such a hard decision. I just have to face reality and get over the fact that things didn't go as I planned (everything happens for a reason I believe!) I don't want to wake up one morning 10 years down the road and regret the decision I am about to make. I need to spend the next couple years finishing my business degree and deciding what is best for my family and I...I just don't want to waste any time.

Thanks for the advice...I needed a little slap in the face. And to those of you who have children and are still following your dreams...you truly do inspire me!

 

[Heavenly4505]

Hi,

I can offer a little bit of advice here. I'm 29 and Pre-Vet. I have two children, a 3year old and a 2year old. I will be 31 before I start Vet school, assuming I get in on the first try. You are not too old, and having a child doesn't mean you can't make it in a professional program. As others have said, it will take dedication and committment at home, too, but it CAN be done. Women do it every day. I have no intention of letting my family life stop me from pursuing my dream--and I'm very thankful for my husband and children. I'm also fortunate that my husband owns his own company and works from home, so he will be able to stay home with them while I attend Vet school. I have friends who have 3 or 4 children and have gone on to Dental, Pharmacy, Med school, etc. Certainly, it can be done, and you are a lot younger than some of us moms out there who are considering these options. If you want it, go for it, but as stated previously, you need to decide WHICH ONE you want to do. If being a Vet is truly your dream, then go for it. If you want to be a Pharmacist, then pursue that. If you want to go to med school, go for that. But you need to choose one soon and start working toward that goal. I've changed my mind a zillion times and wasted a lot of time, but now that I've settled on Vet Med, I couldn't go anywhere else.

 

[montessori2md]

I did premed while working and as a mother of one. Being a mom is being a mom, regardless of what you do besides that. Being a good student or a good parent or a good -vet/pharm/md/whatever, can all be done by the same person.

Also, as stated above, 23 is YOUNG. The only difference between you and the "traditional" health professions student is that you have a short person who depends on you, so you can't (or at least shouldn't) be as frivolous with your decisions.

Build a support group in your area, family, friends, etc. Real people can help Way more than we can (but I 😍 SDN!).

 

[Truth74]

Did someone say vet med?
Hi there Medikal,
I'm 33 with three kids (12, 9, and 7). I'm in the current vmcas cycle with an interview at Illinois CVM in 2 weeks. I took time off to give the kids a head start when they were born, so I've seen both sides. I do not regret those ten years at all.

I know it can feel frustrating not doing anything, right away. The best bet would be to make sure you've done your research and not rush in. Find out where it is you actually want to go.
Just look around. We're doing it. It may be that we're holding it together with baling wire and string, but we're doing it.

Good luck!
Truth74

 

[physics junkie]

22 with an 11 month old. Girlfriend is 23 and doing her post-bacc and takes care of our daughter while taking 2 classes/semester. I'm finishing my degree this may. It can be done. Don't play life like a rat race either...a few years here or there means nothing in the end.

 

[Halcyon440]

I am 33 and having my first baby in April. I will be starting medical school in August (have a few acceptances so far but still waiting on several schools). Just wanted to pipe in that it can certainly be done. And as everyone else has already mentioned, you are actually still quite young. Just figure out which track you want and start working towards it, even if very slowly. The years will pass by regardless. Even if it takes you until you're 40 to be done, you're going to turn 40 anyway. So you might as well just go for it. The worst that can happen is that it doesn't work out, but at least you gave it your all. 👍